The Girl Next Door

18. Chill Nights and Unexpected Glances

The boys didn't even bother with an excuse; they just slowly drifted out of the pool, one by one, leaving Astrid and me behind. Matt shot me a knowing look before disappearing into the house with Blaine and Geoff trailing behind, laughing quietly. I knew exactly what they were doing, and for once, I wasn't going to complain.

Astrid leaned against the edge of the pool, the water lapping gently around her as she stared up at the darkening sky. I stayed close, but not too close, giving her space while also trying to figure out how to keep the conversation going.

"So," I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Why'd you and your family move here? Small-town life doesn't seem like your thing."

She turned her head to look at me, her expression softening. "It's not exactly by choice. My stepdad got a new job here, so we packed up and left."

I nodded, not wanting to pry too much, but then she continued, her voice quieter now. "It's not just that, though. My mom... she's been struggling. She has depression, and moving here was supposed to help, I guess. A fresh start or something."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I thought back to all the times I'd seen her house, dark and silent, with no sign of her mom ever stepping outside. "That's why you're not in school sometimes," I said, piecing it together.

Astrid nodded, her gaze dropping to the water. "Yeah. She has good days and bad days. On the bad days, I stay home to take care of her. I'm scared to leave her alone, you know? I'm afraid..." She hesitated, her voice catching for a moment. "I'm afraid I might lose her."

I didn't know what to say. Hearing her open up like this was unexpected, and it made me realize just how much she was carrying on her own.

"But your stepdad... he's there, right?" I asked gently.

She nodded again, but there was a trace of something bittersweet in her expression. "Yeah, he's kind. He helps out when he can, but... it's different. He's not her, and he's not my dad. It's not the same."

I wanted to say something comforting, something to make her feel less alone, but I didn't want to risk sounding fake or patronizing. So instead, I just said, "That's a lot for one person to handle. You're stronger than you think, Astrid."

She looked at me, her eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "I don't know about strong. Most days, I just feel tired."

"Still," I said, meeting her gaze. "You're here. You're doing what you can. That counts for something."

For a moment, we just floated there in the pool, the world around us quiet except for the faint sounds of the boys laughing inside the house. It wasn't much, but I hoped she could feel that she wasn't as alone as she might think.

"And how long have you known them?" Astrid asked, her tone curious as she leaned against the edge of the pool, the water rippling around her.

I thought for a moment before answering. "Well, I've known Matt my whole life. Our moms are best friends, so we grew up together—basically attached at the hip. Geoff moved here when he was twelve. He lived down the street, and we met during a game of street football. He tackled me too hard, and we've been friends ever since."

Astrid smirked. "So, violence builds friendships?"

"Apparently," I replied with a chuckle. "As for Blaine, he moved here not too long ago to live with his grandparents. Matt and I kind of adopted him into the group. He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's usually something worth listening to."

Astrid nodded, her expression thoughtful. "They seem like a good group of guys. Loyal, in their own way."

"Yeah," I said, glancing toward the house where I could faintly hear their laughter. "They're my brothers, really. I can always count on them. Even when they're being absolute pains, like leaving us alone out here on purpose."